조기경보기 북한, 조기경보기 첫 비행 실시

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When Computers Went To Sea | 북한이 Il-76을 조기경보기로 개조중인 것이 확인됨 - Daum 카페

북한이 Il-76을 조기경보기로 개조중인 것이 확인됨

When Computers Went To Sea | 거의 완성단계에 이른 북한의 조기경보기 - Daum 카페

거의 완성단계에 이른 북한의 조기경보기

북한이 Il-76 수송기를 개조한 조기경보기 개량을 완료하고 이번 주 초 평양국제공항에서 첫 비행을 실시했네요. 김정은이 내부를 순시하는 사진도 공개했습니다. 

 A-50처럼 회전식 레이돔이 아니라, 이전 38노스 기사에서 추정했던 것처럼 감시범위 120도의 패널식 레이다 3개를 붙여놓은 방식 같습니다. 중국이 기술을 이전했는지, 아니면 러시아가 독자적으로 개발한 것인지는 모르겠네요. 

콘솔 7개로 구성된 내부사진도 공개됐습니다 

First North Korean Airborne Early Warning Jet Flies, Kim Shows Off Interior

First North Korean Airborne Early Warning Jet Flies, Kim Shows Off Interior

North Korea's radar plane, based on an Il-76 cargo jet, has been taking shape for more than a year.

Joseph Trevithick

Posted 6 Hours Ago

122

North Korean state media

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North Korea’s shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on a Russian Il-76 Candid cargo aircraft, has flown. We now have official views of the aircraft, including one showing the country’s leader Kim Jong Un inspecting its missionized interior.

Kim inspected the aircraft, the official designation and/or name of which is not yet known, at Pyongyang International Airport earlier this week, according to North Korean state media. The aircraft will “play a significant role in monitoring potential threats and gathering critical information,” the North Korean leader reportedly said.

North Korea’s new Il-76-based airborne early warning and control aircraft. North Korean state media

North Korean state media

The external views confirm‎ that North Korea’s AEW&C, which has a two-tone white and grey paint scheme and no readily visible markings, is similar in broad respects, at least outwardly, to Russia’s A-50 Mainstay and the Chinese KJ-2000 Mainring. Unlike the A-50 and the KJ-2000, the North Korean design, at least currently, does have a pronounced lack of antennas and other protrusions associated with aircraft of this type.

A Russian A-50 Mainstay. aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A side view of a standard Chinese KJ-2000, albeit with the serial number censored from the photo. FYJS/via Chinese internet A side view of a standard PLAAF KJ-2000, albeit with the serial number censored from the photo. FYJS/via Chinese internet

Also visible is the distinctive triangle design of the radome on top of the rear fuselage, which we now know for sure is fixed in place, unlike the one on the A-50. Fixed radomes of this kind are found on the KJ-2000 and other Chinese AEW&C aircraft, and house three non-rotating phased array radars to provide 360-degree coverage.

A view of the North Korean AEW&C aircraft on the ground. The fixed mount for the radome and its triangle design are visible here. North Korean state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and others board the aircraft offering another view of the radome and its mount. North Korean state media

The interior view shows at least seven individual work stations, as well as flat screen monitors on the interior walls of the fuselage and forward bulkhead. AEW&C planes typically have relatively large crews tasked with monitoring the battlespace around the aircraft and controlling friendly aircraft. The interior looks very modern, uncluttered, and otherwise impressive, almost like a Hollywood movie set representing high military technology. Its actual level of functionality is very questionable.

Kim Jong Un and others inside the new North Korean AEW&C. North Korean state media

Details about the North Korean AEW&C’s actual capabilities otherwise remain limited. As TWZ has previously written:

“While it’s questionable to what degree more complex battle management and command and control functions could be mastered by North Korea, and hosted aboard an AEW&C aircraft, the ability to extend airborne radar coverage over considerable distances would be a great advantage, either providing prior warning of a potential attack from South Korea and/or tracking incoming aircraft and missiles during at least the opening moments of a conflict. The data it collects could also be shared with surface-to-air missile operators to help provide extra warning to enhance their operations. More importantly, it would provide a new tool for daily surveillance of North Korean and South Korean airspace and an avenue to learn to better perfect AEW&C capabilities.”

Furthermore, as we’ve noted in the past:

“Ultimately, an airborne radar, as found in an AEW&C aircraft, provides a ‘look down’ capability that can spot aircraft, cruise missiles, or drones among the ground clutter and is far less restricted by high terrain compared to ground-based radars. No such radar was previously available to North Korea.”

“On the other hand, there are no signs that North Korea is converting more than a single Il-76 for the AEW&C mission, which means this kind of coverage would be necessarily limited.”

“The aircraft would also be a prime target for South Korea and the United States in a time of conflict with the North. With that in mind, its wartime role might be strictly limited and likely very short-lived. Instead, perhaps, it might have greater value for more routine operations, keeping tabs on movements over the border and providing valuable intelligence and day-to-day surveillance.”

It also remains unclear the extent to which the Russians, Chinese, or both, may have been involved in the development and fabrication of this aircraft. A-50 variants are or have been in service in India, Iraq, and Iran.

Satellite imagery indicates that work on the plane began in late 2023, and TWZ has been watching it closely since it first emerged. It appeared for the first time with the radome installed just earlier this year. You can read more about what is known about this aircraft and the timeline of its construction here.

A satellite image showing the North Korean AEW&C at Pyongyang International Airport on March 14, 2025. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies

What we do know is that North Korea’s new Il-76-based AEW&C aircraft is now flying and has been officially unveiled. More details may now begin to emerge.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

[백선호]

3면 고정식으로 했겠죠??? 굳이 이제 빙빙 도는 것을 만들지는 않을 것 같습니다.

[위종민]

위에다가 막대형 안테나를 붙일지, 원형 레이돔에 삼각형 모양으로 붙일지 여부만 달라지겠네요.